22:16 churches. This is the first reference to “churches” since the letters to the churches at the beginning of the book (e.g., Revelation 3:22). This is undoubtedly because there will be no true churches as such in the world during the events of the tribulation period, as recorded in Revelation 4–19. However, everything in the book is intended for the instruction of the churches in this present age—hence, this reminder.

22:16 David. The Lord Jesus Christ is both David’s Creator and his descendant (Matthew 22:41-46). That can only be true if He is both God and Man, the God/Man.

22:16 morning star. Satan had aspired to be “Lucifer, son of the morning” (Isaiah 14:12), where “Lucifer” can also be translated “Day-Star” (Hebrew haylel), referring to Venus, the bright star of the dawning. Here, however, after Satan has been forever banished to the lake of fire, Christ proclaims that He alone is “the bright morning star,” where “morning” in this case is the Greek orthoinos, always referring only to Venus, the star of early dawn. At the end of his Revelation, the Lord is reminding all readers that He, not Satan, is the harbinger of eternal light and life. The great conflict of the ages between Satan and Christ, the old serpent and the promised Seed of the woman, will soon be over. Christ is the true Day-Star, Son of the morning.

22:20 come quickly. Here is Christ’s last, and greatest, promise. Although the promise was given over 1900 years ago, His coming has actually been imminent in every generation. In the scale of eternity, of course, even 1900 years is a very brief period of time. In any case, His coming is sure, and when He does come, all the events associated with it will indeed take place quickly, as described in this book. In the meantime, we must simply obey His command to “occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13).

22:20 come, Lord Jesus. Here is the last, and most appropriate, prayer of the Bible. The Lord, indeed, taught us that our first request in praying should always be, in effect: “Thy kingdom come. They will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Our attitude always should be to “love His appearing” (II Timothy 4:8) and to “abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (I John 2:28).